Category Archives: Medical

Hydration is Crucial, Even During the Winter

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Greg Asseff

During the summer, many individuals have little trouble staying hydrated as it feels natural to reach for a fresh glass of water every hour or two because you’re thirsty.

During the cooler months of the year, however, many individuals assume that they need less water since they’re not sweating as much and they feel comfortable, not parched, and hence, tend to ignore winter hydration.

Hydration during the winter months is a concern as your body continues to lose water through the various internal bodily functions that it routinely performs, urination, perspiration and breathing. The fact that the late fall and winter months coincide with flu season doesn’t help either, since you lose water at an even faster rate when you’re sick.

Hydration is important year-round, and the absence of thirst does not always indicate that your body is properly hydrated. In order to keep your body fueled with water, it’s good to know how much to drink and how to drink it.

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Skin and Beauty, Studies | 29 Comments

Struggling with Chronic Back Pain? Try Yoga, Study Says

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Greg Asseff

With origins in ancient India, Yoga is one of the most universal types of exercise in the world, however, Yoga did not become popular in the United States until the 1960s. In fact, Yoga is now practiced by millions of men and women in the United States and millions of additional individuals throughout the world.

The first references to yogic principles have been proven to date back as far as the 2nd century B.C. while the oral traditions of Yoga concepts and poses most likely preceded the 2nd century by a couple of thousand additional years, although the precise date of origin is difficult to specifically pinpoint.

Many forms of Yoga are designed to stretch, elongate, and relax the soft tissue of the body. In other words, the various muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the body.

If you suffer from chronic back pain, you’ve probably tried everything from prescription medications, expensive massage, chiropractic services, to a variety of exercise types in search of relief. However, if you have not given Yoga a try, it is well worth considering as, under many circumstances and situations, Yoga is ideal for relaxing, strengthening, and calming a sore back.

Posted in Exercise, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Studies | 8,941 Comments

FDA Warning: Black Licorice May Cause Heart Problems

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is regularly performing a variety of physical activities, consuming a well balanced whole foods diet that is nutritionally rich in vitamins and minerals, and ensuring that you get plenty of rest, relaxation, and sleep. In addition, depending on the individual, it is common that one of the specific aspects of living a healthy lifestyle will be consistently more challenging to achieve than the others.

For some individuals, regularly enjoy a variety of different types of candies and sweets. In fact, many occasions include or center around, consuming some type of sweet treat. For example, many couples that get married have a wedding cake at the reception. In another example, Halloween is centered around children dressing up in a costume and going from door to door and receiving a candy treat.

This being said, if you are trying to determine what sort of sweet treats you would like to indulge in this Halloween and which ones you would not, consider removing black licorice from your list, according to a new warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, Medical, News, Nutrition, Studies | 14,372 Comments

Can Stress at Work Really Make You Sick?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Despite the proliferation of devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs designed to streamline and simplify our lives, modern living only seems to be getting more stressful, busy and hectic. This being said, between trying to balance work, family and the responsibilities and obligations that come with both, has become more challenging than ever.

Living under constant stress can obviously wear on your mental wellness, focus, and concentration, however, can work stress actually make you physically sick? When you feel that you are under pressure at work, and hence, stressed out, does it have the possibility of increasing your chances of actually becoming physically ill? Health and fitness researchers have been asking that very question for decades, and more and more clinical studies are beginning to come to the same conclusion.

Posted in Health, Health Facts, Medical, Mental Health, News, Studies | Leave a comment

Are You Prepared for Flu Season?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Greg Asseff

Few things are more detrimental to your short-term health than catching the flu. You could miss work, interrupt your fitness routine, and end up with less time to spend with your family and friends if you fall ill this autumn.

With the weather getting colder and the days getting shorter, flu season is now fully upon us, and if you haven’t already gotten a flu vaccine shot, if that is something that you believe in, now is the time to do start thinking about flu prevention.

First and foremost, the most important thing to remember, in terms of being “battle ready” for the flu season, is to ensure that your immune system is functioning at an optimal level. This being said, our immune system is designed combat, and destroy, infections and illnesses.

More specifically, our immune system recognizes the normal cells that comprise and make up our entire body (i.e. the cells that are supposed to be present) and will create antibodies to eliminate the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not.